Lancaster Old Sourpuss Gueuze

On tap at Kennett Square Fest 2005, better late than never to add a rating, it was a while ago but certainly memorable, haven’t seen it since. Poured a murky orangish brown with just a few clear bubbles of head stuck to the side of the glass. The nose was a mix of plastics and a little vinegar, much more like an infected spoiled wheat beer than an actual Gueuze. No funk or cellar character. Tastes just as awful as I expected, infected wheat beer for sure. Long since oxidized, cardboardy and flat with a biting acidic finish. This was terrible, and have always wondered when it will rear its head again.

This brew is attainable at the Walnut St. Grill. They told me that it is ages for a significant amount of time before let free intot the hand of the public, well I don’t think all that tlc is worth it. It is very tarty and the aroma and taste is like green apples. Its like apple cider on steriods.

Hazy opaque orange color - foamy head. Aroma of fruit & sour candy. Malts were overwhelmed by the unpleasant acidity. This was sour all right - but not in the good way.

Strong phenols in the fruity aroma with plenty of cardboardlike oxidation and something like soy sauce. Opaque, muddy copper coloured body with thin white fully diminishing head. Salty caramel and bready malts with unclean phenols and unpleasant lactic, yogurty sourness. Watery and sugary with very little carbonation. No thanks - this one was the Breughel of the festival for me. Judging by that huge standard deviation on the scores it’s a shame they didn’t bring their best to the festival. Sampled at Kennett Square Brewfest 2005.

Diminishing white head covers a murky copper hue. Medicinal and soapy nose has a heavy nail polish component and surprisingly so: mustard and soy sauce. The result is a rather salty “gueuze”, bready and caramelic with indeed some lactic hints, but definitely far from fully attenuated, quite mineral and leafy and with an off alcohol note.